Alloys, Bulk Metallic Glass, And Methods Of Forming The Same

Abstract

An alloy having a formula: (Zr1Ti) 100-x-u (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al u wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges: 37≦x≦48, 3≦u≦14, and 3≦a≦30.

1 . An alloy having a formula:
   (Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U      wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 3≦a≦30. 
   
   
   
       2 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , further comprising yttrium (Y), and wherein the formula is:
   [(Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U ] 100-Z Y Z      wherein Z is in atomic percentage in the range 0<Z≦3.   
   
   
       3 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein X is in the range selected from the group consisting of: about 37 to about 46; about 37 to about 44; about 37 to about 42; about 37 to about 40; about 38 to about 48; about 40 to about 48; about 42 to about 48; and about 44 to about 48. 
   
   
       4 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein U is in the range selected from the group consisting of: about 3 to about 12; about 3 to about 10; about 3 to about 8; about 3 to about 6; about 4 to about 14; about 6 to about 14; about 8 to about 14. 
   
   
       5 . An alloy according to  claim 2 , wherein Z is in the range selected from the group consisting of: about 0 to about 2; about 0 to about 1; about 1 to about 3; and about 2 to about 3. 
   
   
       6 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein a is in the range selected from the group consisting of: about 5 to about 15; about 5 to about 14; about 5 to about 12; about to about 10; about 5 to about 8; about 6 to about 14; about 8 to about 14; about 10 to about 14; and about 12 to about 14. 
   
   
       7 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , comprising an amorphous phase in an amount, in volume percentage, selected from the group consisting of: about 50 to about 100, about 50 to about 90, about 50 to about 80, about 50 to about 70, about 50 to about 60, about 60 to about 100, about 70 to about 1.0, about 80 to about 100, and about 90 to about 100. 
   
   
       8 . A bulk metallic glass having a composition of general formula:
   (Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U      wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 3≦a≦30. 
   
   
   
       9 . A bulk metallic glass according to  claim 8 , further comprising yttrium (Y), and wherein the formula is:
   [(Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U ] 100-Z Y Z      wherein Z is in atomic percentage in the range 0<Z≦3.   
   
   
       10 . A method of forming an alloy comprising the step of:
 (a) melting a mixture comprising Zr, Cu, Ni and Al in defined amounts to produce a molten mixture having a composition defined by the formula:
   (Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U    
   wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 3≦a≦30. 
   (b) cooling the molten mixture to a solid to thereby form the alloy.   
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein step (a) further comprises the step of:
 (a1) melting Y in the mixture to produce a molten mixture having a composition defined by the formula:
   [(Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U ] 100-Z Y Z    
   wherein Z is in atomic percentage in the range 0<Z≦3.   
   
   
       12 . A method of making a bulk metallic glass comprising the steps of:
 (a) melting a mixture comprising Zr, Cu, Ni and Al in defined amounts to produce a molten mixture having a composition defined by the formula:
   (Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U    
   wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 3≦a≦30. 
   (b) cooling the molten mixture to a solid to thereby form the bulk metallic glass.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein step (a) further comprises the step of:
 (a1) melting Y in the mixture to produce a molten mixture having a composition defined by the formula:
   [(Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U ] 100-Z Y Z    
   wherein Z is in atomic percentage in the range 0<Z≦3.   
   
   
       14 . An alloy consisting of Zr, Ti, Cu, Ni and Al metals, wherein said metals are present in said alloy according to the following formula:
   (Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U      wherein X, U and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 3≦a≦30. 
   
   
   
       15 . An alloy consisting of Zr, Ti, Cu, Ni, Al and Y metals, wherein said metals are present in said alloy according to the following formula:
   [(Zr,Ti) 100-X-U (Cu 100-a Ni a ) X Al U ] 100-Z Y Z      wherein X, U, Z and a are in atomic percentages in the following ranges:
 37≦X≦48, 
 3≦U≦14, 
 0<Z≦3, and 
 3≦a≦30. 
   
   
   
       16 . An alloy consisting of Zr, Ti, Cu, Ni, Al, wherein at least 50% of said alloy is in an amorphous phase. 
   
   
       17 . An alloy consisting of Zr, Ti, Cu, Ni, Al and Y, wherein at least 50% of said alloy is in an amorphous phase.